stretching wire

[Ron Nossaman]

> Well here is one engineering source that is definitely not the final
> authority, but I do have a mechanical engineering degree, BSME, and I am a
> PE (Professional Engineer license). I am not aware of any steel wire that
> has the kind of elasticity you are talking about (if I understood what you
> have been saying). All of it will take some permanent set after being put
> under tension and released, and all of it will creep when placed under
> tension. Now it does reach a place where the amount of creep exponentially
> approaches zero as the tension is maintained (i.e., the elastic deformation
> (slack) is removed). Combine this with the soundboard becoming settled and
> all the bend areas of the wire being set and you have tuning stability. 
> 
>>> But then I'd be at a loss as to why low panel compression rib 
>> supported soundboards with laminated bridge caps stay in tune 
>> so much better than traditionally built panel supported boards 
>> with solid caps, using the same ever stretching wire. And no, 
>> that's not my wild hair notion either, but is reported by 
>> techs I've done belly work for.
> 
> No reason to be at a loss: the wire has reached a point where creep is
> negligible, and your boards are more stable than others. End result is
> better tuning stability. This does not prove by any stretch (no pun
> intended) that the initial creep did not happen. 
> 
> Dean

Time frame? Amount of creep? A reference????
Ron N